Tigers Advance To 21st Straight NCAC Championship Match

Wittenberg topped Wooster for the second straight year in the conference tournament semifinals to earn a spot in the title match against DePauw.

(From left) Jessica Batanian, Haley Mucha and Melissa Emming combined for 20 kills in a 3-0 win over Wooster. File Photo | Erin Pence
(From left) Jessica Batanian, Haley Mucha and Melissa Emming combined for 20 kills in a 3-0 win over Wooster. File Photo | Erin Pence
November 3, 2012
Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers advanced to their 21st straight North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Tournament championship match with a 3-0 win over the College of Wooster.

The win, by set scores of 25-20, 25-16, 25-18, moved the third-ranked and first-seeded Tigers to 24-4 overall. Fifth-seeded Wooster, which lost to Wittenberg in the tourney semifinals for the second straight year, fell to 18-13.

It wasn't Wittenberg's cleanest win, but style points aren't necessary at tournament time. The Tigers advanced with their customarily diverse offensive attack, while getting at least one dig from 10 different players defensively.

Junior Andrea Behling (Columbus, Ind./North) was the lone player in the match to reach double figures in kills, finishing with 11 and a .320 attack percentage. Freshmen Melissa Emming (West Chester, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) and Kara Seidenstricker (London, Ohio/Jonathan Alder) and senior Jessica Batanian (Sylvania, Ohio/Notre Dame) each added eight kills.

Senior setter Hallie Donathan (Tipp City, Ohio/Tippecanoe) turned in another solid performance, pacing the Tigers with 19 assists. Behling added five blocks to top the defense, with Batanian and senior libero Christina Gilene (Milford, Ohio/McNicholas) each finishing with 17 digs to lead Wittenberg in that category.

Wittenberg will take on second-seeded DePauw in the championship match, while Wooster is slated to play third-seeded Hiram in a consolation match.